Chapter 8
Christmas had been perfect this year. Vanessa had gone overboard with the decorations and food. The boys had run around like giddy kippers with their new toys. And the older kids had spent the day with them too. But now, this moment right now, is why it was perfect. Charity and Vanessa were sat snuggled together with Johnny and Moses on their laps whilst they all watched a Christmas film in their matching pyjamas. And seriously, if Vanessa tells ANYONE that she got Charity to wear matching Christmas pyjamas she's a dead woman! She'd huffed and puffed and pretended to be put out but really her heart had exploded at the fact she got to do things like this with the woman she loved and their kids. It was the kind of thing she never believed she could have but here she was, living in a dream.
The boys had gone quiet and were struggling to keep their little eyes open after all the excitement of the day when the film eventually finished. Charity moved her hand to Vanessa's hair and gently pulled her toward her to kiss her temple. Vanessa smiled softly and turned to face Charity so she could have a proper kiss. Neither woman could remember ever being so content.
"Right, come on then sproglets, time for bed!"
"Not just yet, Charity, there's one more present still left isn't there boys? Can you two fetch the secret present for Mummy?"
The boys were suddenly wide awake again at this and jumped off the sofa, diving under the tree to reach right around the back to pull out a little square-shaped gift that Charity didn't remember seeing. They stood in front of Charity, and Johnny shyly held the gift out towards his Mummy Chatty. She looked over at Vanessa with a questioning look on her face. Vanessa just shrugged mischievously. "Better open it and see what it is, eh boys?"
They nodded enthusiastically until Charity cautiously started opening the little package and uncovered a small box that definitely looked like something you'd get at a jewellers. She looked at Vanessa again, swallowing nervously - she didn't want to get her hopes up for them to be dashed when it turned out to be just a pair of earrings..
She steeled herself and opened the little box to find a silver ring with a modest diamond standing proud at it's centre. Her heart felt like it was about to burst out of her chest but she swallowed her nerves and tried to play it cool.
"Well?" Vanessa questioned nervously
"Well, it looks like a ring to me" she replies coyly
"It's a gazement ring Mummy!" Moses shouts
"Is it? Doesn't seem like it to me.."
Vanessa bites her lip nervously. Maybe she'd read this all wrong and they weren't on the same page at all with where their relationship was at. She starts to panic internally and cringe at what an idiot she's made of herself. The boys jump closer to Charity and practically have their noses stuck in the box trying to peer at it and work out why it's not a 'gazement' ring.
"Why not, Mummy?" Moses eventually asks
"Well.." she draws the word out "engagement rings are meant to come with a question.."
"What question?" Johnny shouts excitedly
Vanessa rolls her eyes and feels a wave of relief wash over her. This woman would be the death of her. She huffs out a little laugh but gives in to Charity's cheekiness with a happy sigh.
"Charity Dingle, you amazing, infuriating, beautiful idiot, will you marry me?" They gaze at each other, their eyes shining with love.
"Say yes, Mummy!" Moses shouts
"Yeah, okay then" she whispers, barely able to get the words out past the lump in her throat before the tears she's fighting eventually win out and spill down her cheeks.
"Yaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyy!" The boys shout in unison, jumping around with excitement.
Vanessa shuffles closer to Charity and removes the ring from its box to place it on her fiancée's finger. No mean feat when they're both shaking with nerves!
Charity sniffs and brushes her hand over her face, trying to get rid of the worst of her tears before leaning in for an emotional and love-filled kiss.
"Are you sure?" she asks when she pulls back
Vanessa rolls her eyes again. "Yes, you daft mare! And it's definitely happening this time! I'm not standing at that registry office on my own again." She widens her eyes pointedly but the cheeky smile on her face lets Charity know she's toying with her.
"No chance, babe. I'll be there an hour early, waiting for you. NOTHING is stopping me marrying you this time."
They both smile and share another kiss.
"Okay boys, I think that's enough excitement for one day, don't you? Up those stairs so Mummy Charity can read you a bedtime story"
"Oh cheers, babe. Is this what it's going to be like from now on? Thought I'd bagged myself a fiancée, not a taskmaster!"
Vanessa chuckles "Just stop complaining and get up those stairs, will ya!" Sticking out her tongue cheekily.
"Come on then kids. Mummy's given her orders. Best behave or we'll never hear the end of it!"
The boys start climbing the stairs, holding onto the rope bannister to keep their little legs steady. Charity climbs the first couple of steps before turning around and heading straight back down to steal another kiss. She pulls away but only minimally, keeping her eyes closed and her face close to Vanessa before letting out a contented hum. Vanessa smiles, giving Charity one last peck and then turning her back around towards the stairs and patting her on the bum to send her on her way.
Whilst Charity is upstairs, Vanessa takes the opportunity to have a quick tidy up, exchange the film credits for some soft music and light a few candles around the room. She pulls a bottle of fizz out of the fridge and finds two glasses in the cupboard above, setting it all down on the coffee table in front of the sofa.
Charity smiles when she comes back downstairs and sees what Vanessa's done, a funny fuzzy feeling taking over her body that she didn't think actually existed until she'd fallen in love with Vanessa
"This is nice, babe"
"Well, I thought we could have a little glass of fizz to celebrate now that we're alone." She pops the cork and pours them each a glass. They chink their glasses together and take a sip, their eyes never leaving the others.
"So babe, seeing as though we're engaged again and you got me this lovely ring.."
"Not too small and boring for your tastes, then?" Vanessa asks cheekily
"Babe, you could have got a flippin' plastic ring out of a cracker for all I care! It's not about the ring."
Vanessa links their fingers together and squeezes Charity's hand.
"Anyway, as I was saying....seeing as though you got me this" pointing at the ring on her finger "I wondered if....maybe....you might want to wear this again?" She's full of nerves again as she pulls the engagement ring she'd given to Vanessa the first time around out of her pyjama pocket.
Vanessa's mouth drops open in surprise
"You kept it?"
"Of course I did. I needed you back, and desperately hoped I'd be able to put it back where it belongs. And if not, then it would remind me of the best day of my life and what an idiot I'd been to throw it all away"
"Oh you"
Vanessa holds out her hand to let Charity put the ring back in its rightful place before leaning in for a kiss. Charity's smile is dazzling and she pulls Vanessa towards her so they can snuggle up again.
"So, when's the big day then?" Charity mumbles lazily a few moments later
Vanessa chuckles. "Charity" she says in that way that only Vanessa can say it. "There's no rush. We can start planning in the new year maybe, after your birthday"
"I'm not waiting that long, babe! I've already missed out once, I am NOT missing out again. I want you walking down that aisle towards me ASAP!"
A smile breaks out across Vanessa's face. Charity really was silly sometimes. But flippin' cute. And all Vanessa's.
"Do you think the registry office is open tomorrow?" Charity ponders
Vanessa chuckles and kisses her silly woman again to shut her up.
They stay curled up on the sofa, drinking the Champagne and talking idly about the wedding until Vanessa realises the time.
"Come on you." Vanessa says as she pulls Charity up off the sofa. "I'll sort the candles and music out and you put the dishwasher on and let's head upstairs"
"Again with the bossiness, babe!" She says with mock outrage as she turns around from where she's just put the glasses in the dishwasher. "I hope there are perks to this engagement mularky!"
Vanessa slinks over to her after blowing out the last candle and grabs the front of her pyjamas pushing her backwards until her back hits the wall at the bottom of the stairs
"Oh, I can think of a few.." she husks before kissing her hungrily leaving Charity wide eyed and breathless stood at the bottom of the stairs until she comes to her senses and chases her fiancée to their bedroom..